From San Juan del Sur to Mexico City: In Nica Now Takes a Vacation!

Being semi-retired and living on a fixed income means vacations don’t happen as nearly as often as they used to. In fact, it’s been 3 1/2 years since Gordon and I enjoyed a proper holiday together.

When we lived in Canada we dreamt of vacations where we basked in the sun while sipping cold cervezas on beautiful beaches. Now that basking in the sun while sipping cold cervezas on beautiful beaches is a regular occurrence an ideal vacation for Gordon and I is something entirely different.

After much discussion, quite a bit of research and consideration of recommendations from friends we decided to take a trip to Mexico City.

AFFORDABILITY FACTOR

Now that we aren’t working full time we don’t have extra cash to spend on vacations like we did when we lived in Canada. One of the reasons we chose Mexico City was the affordability factor.

We flew from Managua to Mexico City with a quick layover in El Salvador. Round trip tickets through Avianca cost just over $500 USD per person, but beginning in December AeroMexico is offering direct flights from Managua for even less.

We booked a two bedroom apartment throughAirbnb. After applicable fees we ended up paying $75 USD per night.

Food and drink cost a bit more in Mexico City than it does here in Nicaragua, but much less than in Canada. Average cost of a beer in a bar was $3 USD, with a typical sit down lunch or dinner in a restaurant priced between $8 and $10 USD. At $2 USD a full meal from a street or market vendor was much cheaper.

If you’re an expat living in Nicaragua longing to see something new a trip to Mexico City might just work you.

HIGHLIGHTS

We covered a lot of ground while in Mexico City. With so much to do and so many cool sites to see it wasn’t hard to fill two weeks.

The Monument to the Revolution – a landmark and monument commemorating the Mexican Revolution.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary of Mexico City (Spanish: Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de María) is the largest cathedral in the Americas.

Some of our trip highlights include…

…riding bicycles on Paseo de la Reforma…

– Two thumbs up for FREE bicycle rentals on Paseo de la Reforma

– Paseo de la Reforma is a wide avenue that runs diagonally across the heart of Mexico City. Every Sunday the road is closed to traffic.

…visiting the pyramids…

– The ruins of Teotihuacán: Greater Mexico City, Mexico

…eating lunch in a cave…

La Gruta Restaurant: Teotihaucán, Mexico

…spending time with our friends Tom and Hannah…

– Saturday afternoon cervezas at a popular cantina in Coyoacán

…strolling through incredible parks…

– Parque España: Mexico City, Mexico

– Parque Mexico: Mexico City, Mexico

– Parque Coyoacán

…and going to the movies.

Yes, that’s right going to the movies!

Oh and how could I forget?

…eating sushi!

We really enjoyed our time away and I especially enjoyed having some new sights to photograph (and in turn be able to share them with you).

BUT…

…it’s good to be back.

Back to our miniature schnauzer Maggie…back to our friends…and back to our home and slow paced life on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua.

For a view of Mexican City — through my eyes — I invite you to check out my image gallery below.

Ecobici Stand: Pick up a bicycle at one location, drop it off at another. Annual membership is around $30 USD.

Parque España

I loved seeing all the dog walkers.

Parque Coyoacán

A popular cantina for mariachi music in Coyoacán.

Burger King in Coyoacán

Cermanic Sugar Skulls

Interesting murals can be seen all over the city.

Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Former residence turned restaurant in the neighbourhood of Polanco.

I photographed this super cute guy at the zoo, which is actually FREE to enter.

Danza de los Voladores (Dance of the Flyers)

I’ve seen this ritual performed in Puerto Vallarta, and enjoyed it a second time in Mexico City. This ritual consists of climbing of a 30 meter pole from which four of the five participants then launch themselves tied with ropes to descend to the ground.

Chapultepec Castle

Construction of the castle started in 1785.

Chapultepec Castle is nearly 7700 feet above sea level – 50% higher than the mile high city – Denver. It was cool to get a bird’s eye view of the city

Classical music played, while people relaxed, read books and napped in this section of Chapultepec Park. The park is 1700 acres, which is twice the size of Central Park in New York.

Gordon and I have never visited ruins or pyramids of any kind; definitely a highlight of our trip!

The Teotihuacan pyramids took approximately 350 years to construct. The project began in 100 BC and was not completed until 250 AD. At that time, it had a population of 125,000 and was larger than any other pre-Columbian American city.

The Angel of Independence was built in 1910 to commemorate the centennial of the beginning of Mexico’s War of Independence. It is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Mexico City, and it has become a focal point for both celebration or protest.

The Plaza de la Constitución, also knows as Zócalo. It is one of the biggest public squares in the world.

We really enjoyed being up above the action watching people, cars and taxis coming and going while enjoying a couple of afternoon cervezas.

Five floors up overlooking the city centre, also known as Zocálo.

Metropolitan Cathedral was unlike any cathedral I have ever seen – so large, grand and elaborate.

Photos don’t even come close to showing what it was like seeing this cathedral in person.

Getting rid of evil spirits?

Bras for Sale

Chocloate Sugar Skulls

Mercado de Jamaica is famous for it’s fresh cut flowers. The prices are unbelievable. For roses prices range from $2.22 to $5.92 USD for 6 dozen!

I read online that there are over 1000 stalls of flowers at this market.

We were amazed at the variety of fruits and vegetables that are available in Mexico City compared to what we can get in Nicaragua.

Pomegranite Snacks

Parque Hundido

Parque Hundido

I have never seen a department store like this one! From MAC cosmetics to Louis Vuitton handbags to chocolates to Italian motorcycles Liverpool has it all! Aisles and aisles and shelves and racks of products, most with very “nice” price tags.

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Welcome to In Nica Now

Hey there! We're Gordon and Elisha -- a semi-retired Canadian couple who is living and loving life in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. Together we created this blog so we could share our Nicaraguan expat experience with you.